Welcome to finals day of SA Junior Champs presented by and we were greeted by a dying swell complimented by a looming onshore which never seemed to eventuate. Like a friend who says he’s on the highway almost at your house when he’s actually at home about to hop in the shower was this onshore - it just didn’t seem to arrive. But as fate would have it as the clock struck 10:30 - the onshore materialised right on time for the final rounds. Regardless of the quality of the surf, the performances on finals day was through the roof.

Here’s a cheeky rundown of what transpired.

All images: Kody McGregor

U12 Girls - Emily Jenkinson

Emily Jenkinson has been on a tear this entire event long. From her first heat we pitted her to be one of the final lady birds standing. And she didn’t disappoint. In the toilsome Lower Point conditions made even more arduous by the pumping onshore, Emily was able to uncover two decent rides which she surfed with aplomb to get a 4.75 and 4.25 and the heat win.

U12 Boys - The Miniature Man Division

Damn, we love the U12 boys division. Their surfing is so free, light-spirited and unadulterated by the confines of the judging criteria. There’s a gentleman who lives in J-Bay, Remi’s his name, and when he surfs it’s pure entertainment. His surfing is highly unpredictable you never know what might unfold, but wow does it make for thrilling viewing. The U12’s have some of that vibe to them. They wear their hearts on their sleeves and surf how they feel.

and just swung for the hills like he was at the driving range banging some golf balls.

The U12 boys final was a close debate, with every one of these mini groms within striking distance of claiming top honours - but it was Ben Esterhuyse who eventually took the win. Ben remained calm under pressure, caught one of the waves of the heat and just swung for the hills like he was at the driving range banging some golf balls.

U14 Girls - Anastasia Venter

Anastasia has been on fire all event long. Just plugging away doing her thang. Finding a wave that hugged the inside and ran cleanly was the main objective on the finals day. And it was like trying to find a vegan burger in the Karoo. Or a KFC in Constantia Village. What’s that? But Anastasia was hungry and be it a vegan burger or a Streetwise II she was ready to eat. After a foamy set rolled through, Anna picked up the second wave, a bit frothy and foamy but it hugged the reef and stood up like a soldier standing for attention. And Anna tagged that thing like her life depended on it earning herself a 7.38 and the U14 girls national title.

like trying to find a vegan burger in the Karoo. Or a KFC in Constantia Village.

U14 Boys Final

As the day proceeded, the onshore picked up and the waves slowly depreciated in size and power, so the advantage fell firmly in the hands of those who were slightly smaller in stature. The U14 boys was a battle of the Davids vs the Goliaths. The small men vs the big boys. Where the competitors with larger frames i.e. Rory Dace and David Emslie punctuated their turns with Huntington Hops, the lighter framed Josh Malherbe & Levi Kolnik remained unhindered by the deteriorating conditions, able to cruise from turn to turn sans bobble or hop. But it was Josh Malherbe who emerged victorious in the end.

Josh had been looking like a sparky firecracker all event long. His surfing was quick, electric and fun and he cruised to a win in the U14 boys final. Right now Josh is a little Tom Thumb, but once he puts on some weight and grows in stature - perhaps in a year's time - he might transform into a mighty Widow Maker. Let's see what 2022 holds.

Right now Josh is a little Tom Thumb, but once he puts on some weight and grows in stature - perhaps in a year's time - he might transform into a mighty Widow Maker.

U16 Girls Final

The U16 girls final was Sarah Scott’s to lose. She furnished us with outstanding performances from heat one till the finals. Her surfing was highly pleasurable to watch. Like a cool glass of lemonade on a hot Summer’s day on the Cobbled Streets of Kalk Bay. Maybe outside of December and not on a weekend so we wouldn’t have to endure that terrible traffic. Anyway - we digress. Not having Sarah win this event would be like Gabriel Medina losing the title to Filipe at Lower Trestles this year. It just would seem unfair.

The final however, was Sarah’s closest heat; Chloe Ribbink came out the gates guns blaaaazing, finding a runner that hugged the rocks which she threw the kitchen sink at, but Sarah set the record straight with one solid whack on the outside for a 5.13 and the U16 girls title.

U16 Boys

The U16 boys final was a closely fought affair between Connor Slijpen & Nate Colby. They were on opposites sides of the draw. Both slaying. Both dropping hammers. They were two of very few kids who took to the skies at SA Junior Champs. And we dig that. Especially Nate’s attempts at taking flight, because even though Nate had a slighter lower make ratio to Conner, he still gave it horns.

The deteriorating surf favoured Connor - and Connor made hay while the sun shined picking good waves and shredding them like he’d done all event long. In an earlier writeup, we called Connor Mr. Right, cause he invariably makes the right decision and the U16 Boys final was no different.

U18 Girls final

It never really looked like Zoe stepped out of third gear this entire event long. Perhaps we’re wrong in saying this, or perhaps we’re right, but there was never a stage where her abilities looked challenged or stretched. Like a sports car in cruise control at 120km on the highway - easy street. Zoe, dare we say, has the strongest female backhand attack (maybe second only to Bianca Buitendag) in the country, and the level of refinement is a step above the next girl in her division. In the final, she sat out there comfortably biding her time, never rushed or stressed. She knew what she had to do and got the job done like she was about to watch a movie with her friends at the cinema with popcorn, a cashew nut chocolate and an upsized coke lite. On one of her waves she did one massive backhand blast that was so tight and critical, the judges issued her a 5.68 - and it was the kind of turn Zoe could’ve done with her eyes closed while standing upside down in a yoga pose.

She knew what she had to do and got the job done like she was about to watch a movie with her friends at the cinema with popcorn, a cashew nut chocolate and an upsized coke lite.

U18 Boys Final

Ahhhh, the premiere boys division. The division that we’d been waiting for all week long. It was going to be a battle for the ages! Mitch du Preez, Daniel Emslie, Luke van Wyk and Luke Thompson. Daniel Emslie had been sending it all event long. Acquiring highlight reel waves from round one till the finals. And due to the fact that the waves were barely surfable by the time the final heat of the event rolled by - it looked like things were playing into Emslie’s hands perfectly. 

And due to the fact that the waves were barely surfable by the time the final heat of the event rolled by - it looked like things were playing into Emslie’s hands perfectly. But it was not to be. On the other side of the draw was Mitch du Preez. Mitchy had been grinding his way through heats from Round 1 to the finals. It seemed like he was consistently on the wrong side of the conditions - the heat before his, pumping, his heat dribbly. Or he’d be on the wrong rotation of set waves. Like a pack horse in a mine, Mitchy just plugged away, kept his head in the game and continued to create opportunities. By the time the final rolled round, Mitch was well versed in art of the grindy heat. Instead of looking for the knockout blow, Mitchy continued to grind and found small waves that hugged the reef and just put that highly proficient backhand to work. Classically good backhand surfing, deep bottom turns with big, strong off-the-tops.

Like a pack horse in a mine, Mitchy just plugged away, kept his head in the game and continued to create opportunities.

Mitch’s surfing is like a highly reliable businessman with solid morals - you can simply always rely on him to do good work. We’re excited to see where Mitchy decides to take his surfing - and we certainly hope he decides to give the QS a solid bash! Lord knows his surfing deserves it. The only question is... will that be on the Visa Card or the Mastercard, Grant du Preez?